16beta-methyl-16alpha, 17 alpha-dihydroxy pregnenes and the 16alpha, 17alpha-cyclic ketals and acetals thereof



United States Patent '5 2 3,167,545 and lofi-NmTHYL 16,17u DliHYDROXY PREGNENES 013,011 AND THE 1604,1'70c-CYCLiC KETALS AND ACE- (13:0 TALS THEREOF [MR1 George Rosenkranz and Mercedes Veiasco, Mexico City, 2

Mexico, assignors, by mesne assignments, to Syntex Y K Corporation, a corporation of Panama H3 No Drawing. Filed Feb. 5, 1960, ar. No. 5,351 Z Ciaims priority, application Mexico Feb. 7, 1959 24 Claims. (Cl. 26i)239.55) The present invention relates to novel cyclopen- 2: i s comfpounds and to a novel process for In the above formulae, Y represents keto or fi-hydroxy. 8 pro uctlont ereo Z indicates a double bond between C-1 and C-2 and a More particularly the invention relates to IGfl-methyl- 16a-hydroxy derivatives of A -pregnene-l7a,2l-diol-3,20- dione and to l6fi-methyl-l6a-hydroxy derivatives of A pregnene-l7a,21-diol-3,20-dione and A -pregnadiene-l7a, 21-dio1-3,20-dione having a keto or B-hydroxyl group at saturated linkage between C-1 and C-2. -R represents hydrogen or a hydrocarbon carboxylic acyl group containing from 1 to 12 carbon atoms. R and R each represent hydroxy and jointly R and R may represent the grouping C-ll, as Well as to the 16a,l7a-cycl1c ketals and acetals and to the 21-esters thereof. 20

The novel compounds of the present invention are potent cortical hormones which have anti-inflammatory --0 R and glycogeflic actiVitY- The novel B- Y Y" in which R represents hydrogen or hydrocarbon groups dIOXY derivative of 'P J such as aliphatic radicals containing from 1 to 8 carbon and the l6u,l7a-cyclic acetals and ketals are also useful 25 atoms or aromatic groups containing 6 to 12 carbon as intermediates which can be converted into the valuable atonm S ketals or metals are f d by -gactign f compounds oXygenated at (3-11 y known biochemiwl the l6a,l7u-dihydroxy compounds with an aldehyde or methods as hereinafter deSCTibedketone such as formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, benzaldehyde,

The novel compounds of the present invention may be a etone, butanone or cyclohexanone in the presence of illustrated by the following formulas: 3O catalytic amounts of perchloric acid.

The acyl group is derived from a hydrocarbon carboxylic acid containing from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, saturated or unsaturated, straight chain or branched chain r aliphatic, cyclic, cyclic-aliphatic, aromatic and may be CHzOR substituted as by hydroxy, alkoxy containing 1 to 5 car- (JL=O bon atoms, acyloxy containing 1 to 12 carbon atoms, or 1 halogen such as chlorine or fluorine. Typical ester groups 1 are the acetate, butyrate, propionate, hemisuccinate, 0 enanthate, caproate, benzoate, trimethylacetate, phenoxyacetate, phenylpropionate, cyclopentylpropionate and ,8-

chloropropionate.

The following equation serves to illustrate in part the preparation of the novel compounds of the present invention CHQOR (llHzOR =0 (7:0

I '---011 on or OH: I l

hydroxylation hydrolysis k 1 micro hiological/ eta oxida tiom/ l formation 0 Hz 0 R E OH 0:0

0 CH :0 f a 1 H0 -011 CH3 0 H 0 H3 0: 0- i hydrolysis ke tal formation. i esterification l giggocpolglogical CHzOR CH2OH 0 on 0 CH3 a HO- --o HO 0 CH3 CH3 CH3 0: i 0: i

ch romic acid esterification oxidation ketal hydrolysis ketal hydrolysis ln the'jabov eiforrhulae, "Ee' isehts the shite "g'r'dti as previously set forth.

r.-. ntp ng.the processn ut d a ove, t k d 16-rnethyl-loedehydro progesterone (Wettste'in, Helv. Chim. Acta, XXVII,'1803 (1944)) issubjected'to'morioiodination at C-2l followed by acetolysis in accordance with the method set forth by Stork et al. in US. 2,874,- 154, issued, oniFebruary 17, 1959, to produce 165-methyl- 21-acetoxy-A-l -pregnadiene-3,ZO-dione. The latter compound is hydroxylated by the procedure described by Petrow et al., J. Chem. Soc. 1955, 4373 with potassium permanganate to' produce the 21-acetate of 16(3-methyl- A -pregnene-l6a,17 ,21-triol-3,20-dione which upon treatment With dilute methanolic potassium hydroxide results in the free 1Gfi-methyl-M-pregnene-16a,17a,2l-triol-3,20- dione. Incubation of thelatter compound with species of Cunninghamella bai nieri ATCC 9244 effects introduction of the hydroxyltgrojup at C-11 to produce 16B-methy1-A pregnene-l lfl,16a,17u,21-tetrol-3,20-dione which is transformed into the 16,17-cyclic ketal or acetal by reaction with a ketone such as acetone or an aldehyde in the presence of catalytic amounts of perchloric acid. Acetylation-at C 21 by conventional esterification as with acetic anhydride in pyridineproduces the l6a,17x-ketal or acetal of v the 21-ac etate of lfl-methyl-A pregnene-l1B,16a,17a, 2ltetro1-3,-2Q-dione which is then subjected to oxidation as with chromic acid in dilute acetic acid to oxidize the ll-hydroxy group t'o'the leto'group. The 1604,17ot-di'l1Y- droxy groups are regenerated, by treatment of the 16m, 170L-CYCllC ketal or acetal'with aqueous formic acid under reflux conditions thus yielding the Zl-acetate of 16,8- methyl-A -pregnene-16a',17a,21-triol-3 ,11,20-trione.

Alternatively, the- ZI acetate of 16B-methyl-A -pregnene-16a,17u,21-triol3,20-dione can be converted into CH OR /chromic acid oxidation stated above results in the 21-acylate of 16fi-methy1-A pregnene-l1p,16a,17u,21-tetrol-3,20-dione which can then be transformed into lofi-methyl-A -pregnene-16a,17u,21-

triol-3,11,20-trione-21-acylate by chromic acid oxidation. Ihe dehydrogenation between C-1 and C-2 can be carried putby known purely chemical methods as by treatment with selenium dioxide in the presence of pyridine and in mixture with tertiary butanol under reflux conditionsor by microbiological methods as by incubation with Corynebacterium simplex ATCC 6946.

In another aspect of this invention, there can be formed the l-dehydro derivative of the aoetonide of 16 3- Inethyl-A -pregnene-16a,17a,21-triol-3,20-dione-2l-acetate which upon treatment with dilute methanolic potassium hydroxide results in the formation of the free 16fl-methyl- A 4-pregnadiene-16a,17a,21-triol-3,20-dione. The latter compound incubation with a culture of Cunninghamella bainie'ri ATCC 9244 is transformed into the acetonide of l6fi-methyl-A -pregnadiene-11B,16a,17a,21 tetrol-3, 2O-dione v Acetylation at C-21 by conventional methods followed by'oxidation with chromic acid in dilute acetic acid and regeneration of the 16a,17a-dihydroxy groups in the manner heretofore set forth results in the formation of the 16B-methyl-A -pregnadiene-16ot,l7a,21-triol- 3,11,20-trione.

1 53 C-2 and/or acetal or ketal formation, can be oxidized to the keto group also before or after the dehydrogenation or ketalization steps.

There can be further introduced a 9a-halo substituent (chloro, fiuoro or bromo) in the novel compounds of this invention by known methods as disclosed by Fried et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 79, 1130 (1957) to produce other potent cortical hormones.

The invention is further illustrated but not limited by the following examples:

Example 1 A solution of 8 g. of 1-methyl-16-dehydroprogesterone described by Wettstein et al. in Helv. Chim. Acta. XXVI! 1803 (1944), in 60 cc. of pure tetrahydrofurane and 36 cc. of methanol was slowly treated under continuous stirring with 12 g. of calcium oxide and then with 12 g. of iodine. The mixture was stirred at room temperature until the color of iodine disappeared almost completely, which took about 4 hours; the calcium oxide was removed by filtration, the filter was washed with methylene-chloride, the filtrate and washings were combined, water and more methylene chloride were added and the organic layer was separated, washed with dilute aqueous sodium thiosulfate solution and then with water, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and the solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure, avoiding overheating; there was thus obtained the crude 16-methyl-21-iodo-L\ -pregnadiens-3,20-dione which was used for the next step without further purification.

A mixture of the above iodo compound, 100 cc. of dry acetone and 20 g. of recently fused potassium acetate was refluxed for 15 hours; the solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure and the residue was treated with 120 cc. of methanol and 2.5 g. of sodium bisulfite dissolved in 20 cc. of water; the mixture was refluxed for 1 hour, cooled, poured into water and the precipitate was collected by filtration, washed and dried. Recrystallization from acetone-methanol yielded 16-methy1-16dehydro-desoxycorticosterone 21 -acetate; M.P. 185188 C.; [a] +81 (chloroform); A 244 mp, log 5 4.36.

A solution of 3.5 g. of the above compound in 120 cc. of pure acetone containing 0.2 cc. of acetic acid was treated with a solution of 1.75 g. of potassium permanganate in 50 cc. of 85% aqueous acetone in the course of about 10 minutes, with continuous stirring at C.; the mixture was then stirred for 30 minutes further at 0 C., filtered through celite and the filtrate was treated with 1 g. of sodium bisulfite in 10 cc. of water and then with 10 cc. of dilute hydrochloric acid (1:10); the acetone was evaporated under reduced pressure and at room temperature, the residue was extracted with methylene chloride and the extract was washed with water, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and the solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure; the residue was purified on 100 g. of silica gel and thus there was obtained the 21-acetate of 16B-methyl-A -pregnene-16a,17ot,21-triol-3, 20-dione; MP. 223-226 C.; [0th, +241 (chloroform); x 240 m log 6 4.22.

3.3 g. of the above compound was mived with 50 cc. of 1% methanolic potassium hydroxide solution and kept at a temperature around 0 C. for 1 hour under an atmosphere of nitrogen and with continuous stirring; the mixture was then acidified with acetic acid, concentrated to a small volume under reduced pressure, diluted with water and the precipitate was collected by filtration, washed with water, dried and recrystallized from acetonehexane. There was thus obtained the free 16/3-methyl-A pregnene-16u,17a,21-trio1-3,20-dione.

A culture of Cunninghamella baim'eri ATCC 9244 was prepared by inoculating 10 1t. of an aqueous medium containing 2% of peptone and of corn syrup with a vegetating culture of such fungus in the same medium and then stirring with aeration for 24 hours at 28 C.

To each liter of this culture was added 30 cc. of an ethanol solution of 300 mg. of 16fi-methyl-A -pregnene- 16a,17a,21'trlOl-3,20-dl0fl and the mixture was stirred with aeration for 24 hours at 28 C. The product was extracted with methylene chloride, the extract was washed with water, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated to a small volume under reduced pressure. The total concentrated extracts were adsorbed in a column charged with 60 g. of silica gel and 60 g. of celite previously washed with methylene chloride. The fraction eluted with methylene chloride-acetone :10 was evaporated and the residue recrystallized from methylene chloride-acetone. There was thus obtained 16,8-methyl-16a-hydroxy-hydrocortisone.

2 g. of the above compound was treated with 2 cc. of acetic anhydride in solution in 10 cc. of pyridine and the mixture was kept at room temperature for 4 hours and then poured into ice water; the precipitate was colected, washed with water, dried and recrystallized from acetone-hexane, thus aitording the 21-acetate of 16,6-methyl-16u-liydroxy-hydrocortisone.

Example 2 A mixture of 2 g. of l6fl-methy1-16a-hydroxy-hydrocortisone and 50 cc. of acetone was treated with 0.1 cc. of 70% perchloric acid and the mixture was stirred at room temperature for 2 hours, diluted with .250 cc. of water and the product was extracted with ethyl acetate; the extract was washed with aqueous sodium bicarbonate solution and water, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and the solvent was evaporated. Crystallization of the residue yielded the acetonide of 16,6-methyl-16a-hydroxyhydrocortisone.

Acetylation of the above compound, by the procedure described in the previous example, gave the 2l-acetate of the acetonide of 16,8-methyl-16or-hydroxy-hydrocortisone.

A mixture of 1 g. of the above compound and 50 cc. of acetic acid was treated with a solution of 200 mg. of chromium trioxide in 20 cc. of 50% acetic acid and stirred for 2 hours at a temperature around 15 C.; after diluting with water the precipitate was collected, washed with water, dried and recrystallized from acetone-hexane, thus furnishing the 21-acetate of the acetonide of 16B-methyll 6ot-hydroxy-cortisone.

Upon subsequent heating of 500 mg. of the above compound with 30 cc. of 60% formic acid on the steam bath for 1 hour, followed by diluting with water the cooled mixture, collecting the precipitate and recrystallizing from acetone-hexane there was obtained the 2 l -acetate of 16B-methyl- 1 6oc-l1YdIOXY-COItl50l16.

By treatment with methanolic potassium hydroxide solution (as described previously) there was obtained the free 16,8-methyl-lor-hydroxy-cortisone.

Example 3 2 g. of 16fi-methyl-A -pregnene-16u,17u,21-t'riol-3,20- dione, prepared in accordance with the method of the preceding example, was treated with acetone and perchloric acid, in accordance with the reaction conditions described in the same example, to give the acetonide of 165-methyl-A -pregnen-16u,17a,21-triol-3,20-dione.

The above compound was acetylated in a conventional manner, thus yielding the 21-acetate of the acetonide of 1Gfl-methyl-M-pregnene-16a,17a,21-triol-3,20-dione.

Example 4 30 cc. of a 1% aqueous yeast extract medium was placed in each of 30 Erlenmeyer flasks of cc. and the contents of each flask was inoculated with a culture of Corynebrzcterium simplex ATCC 6946 obtained by incubation for 74 hours of an aqueous medium of 1% yeast extract with a suspension of such bacteria. The medium thus inoculated was stirred for 24 hours at 28 C. There was thus obtained the culture of Corynebacterium which was employed for the incubation with the steroid.

To each flask there was then added 1 cc. of 1% ethanol solution of 16B-methyl-l6a-hydroxy-hydrocortisone, pre- '48 hours.

The contents of the flasks were combined in three fractions and each'was extracted With portions of 500 cc. each of methylene chloride. The extracts were combined, washed with water, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and the methylene dichloride was evaporated. The residue was purified by chromatography on washed alumina, eluting the product with mixtures of benzene and ether. Recrystallization from ethyl acetate yielded 16fl-methyl-l6oc-hydroxy-prednisolone. Acetylation of the above compound in accordance with the method described in Example 1, gave thev corresponding 21-acetate of 16fl-methyl-l6ot-hydroxy-prednisolone.

300 mg. of this acetate were oxidized with chromium trioxide in acetic acid, by the method of Example 1, thus yielding the 21-acetate of 160t-I116thYl-16oc-hYdI'OXY- prednisone. The above compound was treated with acetone and perchloric acid, in accordance with the method described in Example 1, thus producing the acetonide of 16/3-methyl-16a-hydroxy-prednisone acetate, saponification ofthe latter with 1% methanolic potassium hydroxide solution gave the acetonide 16B-methyl-16ahydroxy-prednisone.

Example 5 A solution of 1 g. of 165-methyl-l6a-hydroxy-prednisolone, prepared as described in Example 4, in 50 cc. of benzene was treated with 0.5 g. of paraldehyde and 1 cc. of 4 N perchloric acid and stirred at room temperature for 2 hours, the organic layer was separated, successively washed with 5% aqueous sodium bicarbonate solution and Water, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and the benzene Was evaporated. Recrystallization of the residue from acetone-hexane afforded 16(3-methyl- 1611,1711: methylenedioxy A pregnadiene-11fl,21-dio1- 3,20-dione.

Example 6 In accordance with the method of the previous example, the 21-acetate of 16;?3-methyl-1oa-hydroxy-cortisone obtained as described in Example 2, was converted into the acetate of 16fi-methyl-16a,17a-methylenedioxy-A pregnen-21-ol-3 ,1 1,20-trione.

Example 7 i A stirred mixture of :1 g. of the 21-acetate of the acetonide of 16;3-methyl-A -pregnene16a,17a,2.1-triol-3,20- dione, obtained as described in Example 3, 50 cc. of tbutanol, 400 mg. of selenium dioxide and 0.2 cc. of pyridine was refluxed under an atmosphere of nitrogen for It was then filtered through celite and the filtrate evaporated to dryness under reduced pressure, the

residue was purified by chromatography on silica gel.

There was thus obtained the 21-acetate of the acetonide of 16B-methyl-A -pregnadiene l6oc,l7o,21 triol 3,20- dione. Treatment of the above compound with 1% methanolic potassium hydroxide in accordance with the method of Example 1, gave the free acetonide of 16fl-methyl- A -tpregnadiene-l6a,17a,21-triol-3,20-dione.

The above compound was subjected to the microbiological oxidation with a culture of Cunninghamella bainieri ATCC 924 4, in accordance with the method described also in Example 1, thus producing the acetonide of 16,8- methyl A -pregnadiene 11fi,16oc,170t,21 tetrol 3,20- dione.

Upon acetylation of the latter compound in a conventional manner, followed by oxidation with chromium trioxide in acetic acid, in accordance with the method described in Example 2, there was obtained the 21-acetate 'of the acetonide of l-6fi-methyl-A -pregnadiene-1611,1705,

2.1-triol43,11,20?trione, identical with that obtained in Example 4.

Example 8 In accordance with the method described in Example 1, the acetonide of 16,8methyl-A -pregnen-16a,1'7a,21- tricl 3,20-.dione, obtained as described in Example 3, was incubated with a culture of Cunninghamella bainieri ATCC 9244 to produce the acetonide of 1 6,8-methyl-A pregnene-11,8,16u,17a,21-tetrol 3,2O dione. Acetylation of the above compound at C-Zl' followed by treatment with 60% formic acid, by applying the method described in Example 2, gave the 21-acetate of l6fi-methyl-A apreg nene-11fl,16a,-17tx,21-tetrol-3,20-dione.

Oxidation of the above compound with chromium trioxide in acetic acid, in accordance with the method described in Example 2, afforded the 21-acetate of 16,8-methx yLM-pregnened6u,17a,21-triol-3,11,20-trione. i

We claim:

1. A compound of the following formula: 4

onion wherein R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and a hydrocarbon carboxylic acyl group of less than 12 carbon atoms.

2. 16,8 methyl A pregnene 16a,17a,21 triol 3,2'0-dione-2l-monoacetate.

'3. A compound of the following formula:

wherein Y is selected from the group consisting of keto and fl-hydroxy and R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and a hydrocarbon carboxylic acyl group of less than 12 carbon atoms.

4. 16B methyl A pregnene 11fi,16a,17a,21 tetrol-3,2()-dione.

5. 16,8 methyl A pregnene 11,6,16a,17a,21 tetrol-3,20-dione-2l-acetate.

6. 16;? methyl A pregnene t,170t,21 triol 3,11,20-trione.

7. 16;; methyl A pregnene l6a,l7oc,2l triol 3, 11,20-trione-21-acetate.

8. A compound of the following formula:

HzQR wherein Y is selected from the group consisting of keto and ,B-hydroxy and R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and a hydrocarbon carboxylic acyl group of less than 12 carbon atoms.

9. 16,8 methyl A pregnadiene 11fi,16oz,17oc,21 tetrol-3,20-dione.

10. 165 methyl A pregnadiene 11/3,16u,17 x,21- tetrol-3,20-dione-21-acetate.

1 1. 16,8 methyl A pregnadiene 16cc,170c,21 triol-3 ,1 1,20-trione-21-acetate.

12. A compound of the following formula:

(IJHzOR C wererin R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and a hydrocarbon carboxylic acyl group of less than 12 carbon atoms; and R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and a hydrocarbon radical containing 1 to 8 carbon atoms.

13. 16s methyl 16a,17u isopropylidenedioxy A pregnene-21-ol-3,2O-di0ne.

14. 1613 methyl 1611,17 isopropylidenedioxy A pregnene-2l-ol-3,20-dione-Z1-acetate.

15. A compound of the following formula:

wherein Y is selected from the group consisting of keto and B-hydroxy; R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and a hydrocarbon carboxylic acyl group of less than 12 carbon atoms; and R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and a hydrocarbon radical containing 1 to 8 carbon atoms.

16. 165 methyl 16c,17rx isopropylidenedioxy A pregnene-l1B,21-diol-3,20-dione.

17. 1613 methyl 1605,1701 isopropylidenedioxy A pregnene-l15,21-diol-3,20-dione-21-acetate.

18. 16,8 methyl 16oc,170r methylenedioxy A pregnene-2l-ol-3,11,20-trione.

19. 16b methyl 160 170; isopropylidene dioxy A pregnene-2l-ol-3,11,20-trione-21-acetate.

20. A compound of the following formula:

OHBOR wherein Y is selected from the group consisting of keto and fl-hydroxy; R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and a hydrocarbon carboxylic acyl group of less than 12 carbon atoms; and R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and a hydrocarbon radical containing 1 to 8 carbon atoms.

21. 16,8 methyl l6a,17ot methylenedioxy A pregnadiene-l1B,21-diol-3,20-dione.

22. 16B methyl 1605,170: isopropylidenedioxy A pregnadiene-21-o1-3 ,11,20-tri0ne.

23. 16B methyl 1601,17 isopropylidcnedioxy A pregnadiene21-ol-3 ,11,20-trione-2l-acetate.

24. Compounds selected from the group consisting of those having the formula:

$H2OR 0:0

and the l-dehydro derivatives thereof, wherein Y is selected from the group consisting of keto and fl-hydroxy and R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and lower alkanoyl.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,777,864 Bernstein et al Jan. 15, 1957 2,789,118 Bernstein et a1 Apr. 16, 1957 2,806,043 Bernstein et a1. Sept. 10, 1957 OTHER REFERENCES 

15. A COMPOUND OF THE FOLLOWING FORMULA: 